June 8 is World Oceans Day. On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Ocean Affairs Council held its third-ever event celebrating the day domestically.
The World Oceans Day was officially recognized by the United Nations in 2008, but its roots go back to the 1990’s. This year’s theme is “Revitalization: Collective Action for the Ocean.” Expanding on that UN theme, the Ocean Affairs Council wants to bring together non-governmental organizations, industrial resources, and innovative research and strive towards its ocean revitalization and conservation goals.
This year’s celebrations in Taiwan were held online, due to the country’s ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. During the event, the council outlined government efforts and achievements in ocean conservation. It hopes to raise awareness of ocean-related issues among the Taiwanese and work towards a brighter future for all ocean countries.
Many important issues related to ocean conservation have become more visible in Taiwan in recent years. These include damage to coral reefs, plastic pollution, and overfishing.